Fans of baseball fiction know that Mark Harris’s “Blue Sox” series is the best of the breed, with Bang the Drum Slowly the high point of that complex and realistic saga of star lefty pitcher Henry Wiggin. This moving and often funny story unfolds during a season with the Mammoths baseball team, focusing on the friendship between a world-wise star pitcher and a country boy catcher struggling to cope with devastating news. With themes of teamwork, perseverance and friendship, the play is ultimately about people caring for people, and the strong bond that forms between two men from different walks of life who by sheer coincidence and chance become the best of friends, loyal to each other through thick and thin.

Mark Harris’ novel of the boys of summer is a sequel to 1953’s The Southpaw and was first published in 1956. It was later made into a 1956 U.S. Steel Hour television adaptation starring Paul Newman. A later film adaptation in 1973 starred a little known Robert De Niro. Eric Simonson adapted the novel and the play was first produced in 1992.

Director Ellen Dempsey is a TACT Artistic Associate. Her work has been seen on the stages of American Century Theater, The Keegan Theatre and the Little Theatre of Alexandria. This is her eighth production with TACT.

The show is produced by Ed Moser, who is also Sound Designer. The technical team includes Stage Manager Lindsey E. Moore, Lighting Designer Pete Caress, Costume Designer Marilyn Johnson, Set Designer Brandon Guilliams, and Props Designer Kevin Laughon.